Thailand arrests US citizen on royal defamation charges, denies bail

ANKARA

Thai authorities have arrested a US citizen, Paul Chambers, on charges of insulting the monarchy, with a local court rejecting his bail application, state media reported Tuesday.

Chambers, a law lecturer in the Faculty of Social Sciences at Naresuan University, was denied bail by a court in Phitsanuloke province after being charged under Thailand’s strict lèse majesté laws and the Computer Crimes Act, Thai PBS reported.

The charges stem from a complaint filed by the Thai military's Third Army Region, which alleged Chambers had posted comments online that could be interpreted as offensive to the monarchy. Chambers, however, has denied the accusations, stating he did not post any such content on the website in question.

The US State Department responded to the arrest by expressing concern and calling on Thai authorities to uphold fundamental freedoms.

“This case reinforces our longstanding concerns about the use of lèse majesté laws in Thailand. We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and to ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

Bruce confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Thailand is providing full consular support to Chambers and has requested access to him to ensure his well-being and provide any necessary assistance.

Thailand’s lèse majesté laws -- among the harshest in the world--criminalize defamation or insult of the monarchy, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison per offense. Rights groups and foreign governments have repeatedly criticized their use as a tool to suppress dissent.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid